Whether or not you're a Southern bride, chances are, you're going to play at least a few country songs at your wedding. Let's be serious, can you imagine a world where couples didn't dance to Rascal Flatts' "Bless the Broken Road" for their first dance? Exactly. In light of that, we curated a playlist packed with country hits that couples of all kinds will love. Country's It couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill The first-dance song options are, of course, endless. Keith Urban's "Making Memories of Us," Lonestar's "Amazed," and Shania Twain's "From This Moment On" are basically standards by this point. And for good reason—something about the twang of the instruments with the heartfelt lyrics make them feel instantly personal. Our picks go way beyond just those love songs. We happen to love Rhett Atkins' "She Said Yes" and Trisha Yearwood's "She's in Love With the Boy" for processional music. And for the reception? Zac Brown Band's "Chicken Fried," Billy Currington's "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right," and Blake Shelton's "God Gave Me You" are guaranteed to get your guests on the dance floor, whether it's for a full-on dance party or for a sweet slow song. If you're read more

One of the most nerve-racking things that comes along with being engaged? Taking your engagement photos! The pressure can be intense to capture the essence of your life as a couple in one beautiful, flattering image, but the process doesn't have to be rocket science. Here are five expert-approved suggestions for creating a natural engagement photo. 1. Engage in an Activity The best way to ensure a natural photo? Choosing a low-pressure activity for the shoot according to Lauren Saldutti and Michael Kelley of A Guy and a Girl Photography. "In our experience, most nonprofessional models are a little uncomfortable being photographed. They are often unsure of what to do with their hands...so give them something to do," Saldutti suggests. 2. Get to Know Your Photographer Set aside some bonding time to get to know your photographer, recommends Saldutti. "We always try to take a 10-minute breather with our couples. Getting to know each other better is always good for the wedding day—and the second half of the engagement shoot," Saldutti advises. 3. Stage Stolen Moments "I try not to pose my subjects but rather set up scenes where they can relax and express themselves," explains New York City read more

You can read up like you're trying to cram for an exam or read a bridesmaid survival guide, but the best—and really the only—way to figure out how to be a bridesmaid is to do it over and over again—and make some mistakes along the way. Whether you're doing this for the first or the 14th time, here's a list of common bridesmaid mistakes to avoid. 1. Prematurely accepting to be a bridesmaid Just because you're asked to be a bridesmaid doesn't mean you have to say yes. Do it only because: that person truly means a lot to you, you have the time and extra cash to do it right, and because you want to. 2. Bringing the wrong gift to the wrong place When the wedding adventure first begins, map out each event that you plan on bringing a gift to—that way, you won't make the rookie mistake of bringing lingerie to the bridal shower. 3. Not listening to the bride When the bride says she wants a quiet and simple bachelorette party, somewhere with bottles of wine and cucumbers over her eyes—don't go off and plan a night out at the hottest club in Las Vegas. read more

Sure, different songs mean different things to different people. But when the lyrics are blatantly about liking big butts or two-timing your man, one has to wonder, how in the world did you choose that? We asked a few wedding insiders to dish the dirt on the strangest first dance song choices they've ever heard. My 💛 Photo by @elizabethmessina A photo posted by Lauren Conrad (@laurenconrad) on Feb 2, 2014 at 9:41pm PST "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5 "There was a time that I saw Maroon 5's 'She Will Be Loved' as a very popular first dance song," a wedding planner explains. "Of course, the music video features two couples: one in an abusive relationship and one where the boyfriend obsesses over the girlfriend's mother. Given that context, it's a very odd choice for a couple just starting out their married lives together!" "Lyin' Eyes" by the Eagles "A couple years ago I filled in for a planner at a wedding, and I swear the entire room danced in a circle and sang 'Lyin' Eyes' by the Eagles," another planner explains. "The song is about adultery. I asked why this song was so important to sing read more

You can plan a wedding only up to a point. Both the unforeseen and unexpected will happen—and you'll still love it. But here, some of our readers share the things they would have changed about their day so you can benefit from their hindsight. "Slow down time for the day! It went way too quickly." —Michael H. "Not being pulled a zillion different ways." —Jolie H. "I would have not invited certain people who RSVPed 'yes' and then never showed up or apologized." —Mel Z. "I would have hired a videographer instead of just recording bits and pieces with a video camera." —Elizabeth H. "My wedding was 27 years ago. I would not let my mother run it. I will not do this when my daughter gets married." —Denise T. "I didn't get to eat my wedding cake." —Brenda R. "I wouldn't change a thing, though it would have been nice if people respected invitations and not added extra people because they were the girlfriend of the moment!" —Vanessa G. "Don't get me wrong, I loved my wedding, but I would not count on certain people to do what they said they would do. I would have also spent read more

There are a lot of etiquette rules in play when it comes to weddings, and just because you're not in the wedding doesn't mean you're exempt from following them. As a guest, what might feel like "not a big deal" to you could easily throw off a couple's big day. Sure, mishaps may still happen, but follow these nine basic etiquette tips to make sure that you're not the source of any of them. 1. Respect the RSVP guidelines Planning a wedding is already a feat—give the couple a break by not making them chase down your RSVP. Send in your acceptance or regrets by the date requested and do not ask the couple if you can bring other guests/friends/plus-ones/children if they were not explicitly invited. 2. Don't change your mind at the last minute Barring any serious emergencies, you should not change your RSVP at the last minute. The couple's already paid for your attendance and it's just really awkward to have three courses served to an empty seat. 3. Be on time The couple's wedding day is one structured timeline and what seems like a minor delay of 15 or 20 minutes could seriously cut into their read more

You know how some clothes work only on the runway? Well, some weddings work only on Pinterest. The photos you find are great for garnering inspiration. However, the ideas you get from those same photos don't always pan out the way you thought they would in real life. Not all DIY ideas are off-limits. Try one of these from Style Me Pretty's Abby Larsen. A Remote Outdoors Wedding While the ambience of getting married in a field overlooking the mountains sounds super dreamy in theory, the reality of it (bugs, blazing hot sun and no shelter) is a whole lot less glamorous, according to Kristen Ley, owner of Something New for I Do. "Styled shoots are often romanticized," she explains, "and it's easy to get sucked in by the pretty details. Pull off the outdoor wedding you want to achieve, but not at your guests' expense." Asking a Friend or Family Member to Officiate Unless your cousin Becky is a uniquely skilled public speaker, this cute little touch can spiral into a stage-fright fiasco real fast, warns special events producer Richard O'Malley. "There's a lot of pressure on your friend or family member to get it right; they've never read more

You're so not one of those brides who spent hours pinning wedding dresses and table settings before you were ever even in a relationship. You're cool as a cucumber and laissez-faire about the whole planning process. But what you don't realize is that all your chillness is actually not all that chill. While being super demanding of your friends and family and shooting down their every idea is rude, so is expecting others to literally make up your mind for you. The only time it's OK to be a lazy bride? In the Reformation bridal look book. If you're worried you might be too chill of a bride, keep on reading to see if these signs apply to you. 1. You'd never in a million years tell your bridesmaids what dress to wear. Much less make them wear the exact same dress. They've got good taste...um, right? 2. You decided not to have any bridesmaids at all solely because you didn't want to inconvenience anyone. Your friends and family have enough going on in their lives right now to help you. 3. Your wedding planner is basically there to make the decisions for you. And [insert whoever is paying read more

No matter how crazy you've driven your BFF with wedding-planning talk over the past year, the truth of the matter is she loves you and she legitimately can't wait to see you walk down the aisle. In fact, she'll probably get more secretly emotional about it than you will. So maybe she's not the sappiest chick on the planet or perhaps she just didn't get the chance to tell you yet, but here's what she's really thinking on one of the most special and important days of your life. Grab a tissue, brides, because now it's your turn to cry...tears of joy, of course! Full of gratitude "Standing in the church pew with the other bridesmaids and watching my best friend walk down the aisle still brings a lump to my throat. I couldn't help but feel so much love and gratitude toward her. She inspires me because of her bravery: She's not afraid to love fiercely and also honestly. She's remarkably humble and downright genuine. She may not realize it, but she's an inspiration for me constantly." —Sharon Bursting with happiness "I was over the moon for my BFF, Sarah. I remember saying to her, 'I am so read more

Sure, you probably didn't pick out your own engagement ring, but it was more than likely entirely inspired by some trait your guy recognizes in you. Does a round-cut solitaire diamond sit on your fourth finger? We're willing to bet you're a super-classic bride-to-be. Are you rocking a gorgeous princess-cut sparkler? You're likely planning a simple yet super-stylish wedding reception. Want to know what your engagement ring is telling the world? Read on! 1. "My dress designer won the CFDA award last year." You live for fashion and relish anything that's on the cutting edge. This inventive Asscher-cut ring is as perfect for you as your downtown venue—a scene-y gastro-lounge with haute bar food and craft cocktails. Three diamonds with floating melee-diamond wires set in platinum and 18-karat yellow gold, Alexandra Mor 2. "This ring means business. And so do I." The setting is exactly how you want your wedding to be: sleek, simple, and stylish. Admire its wattage while you spreadsheet your way to party perfection and haggle with your florist on your headset. Lucida-diamond solitaire set in platinum, Tiffany & Co. 3. "More is always more." So says the girl rocking three stones on one finger. For read more

Summer may be coming to an end, but that doesn't mean you have to put away pretty pastel details—especially when it comes to your wedding-day look! No, we don't mean you have to purchase a pale-hue wedding dress in order to be on-trend (though we do have quite a few favorites!). Rather, fashion-forward brides are selecting wedding-ready accessories in ultra-soft hues for a chic pop of color to an otherwise all-white look. 1. Clutch, mint alligator bag with crystal quartz, Marchesa; 2. Bracelet, ombre pink-sapphire bracelet, Paolo Costagli; 3. Ring, yellow-sapphire and diamond ring set in 18-karat yellow gold, Irina Ferry; 4. Ring, amethyst and white-sapphire ring set in 18-karat white gold, Kalan by Suzanne Kalan; 5. Ring, pink-tourmaline ring with diamonds, Carelle; 6. Heels, pink leather sandals, $515, Alexander Wang Luckily for the bride-to-be who wants to add a pastel accessory to her look, there's no shortage of pretty choices! Designers practically flooded their fall runways with pale pink, mint green, and yellow options that are the perfect addition to your bridal wardrobe. Some of our favorites statement-making pieces included barely-there-hue shoes and jewelry. A petal-pink leather sandal would be a gorgeous complement to a trendy tea-length wedding read more

The only thing better than wearing Christian Louboutin heels for your wedding day? Wearing Christian Louboutin heels and Christian Louboutin nail polish for your wedding day. Christian Louboutin Beauté, which officially launches on Sunday, encompasses three collections: the Pops (bright colors), the Noirs (dark tones), and the Nudes (your new go-tos for classic big-day shades). At $50 a bottle, they might be a bit pricey, but the bottles are practically works of art themselves: At eight inches, they're as tall as the tallest heel he ever created. Here, we've put together five shoe-and-nail polish pairings that brides-to-be will love. Nude Nail Polish + Laser Cutout Pumps = Classic Wedding With a Modern Twist Neutral, glossy nail polish? Check. Pretty white heels? Check. Everything about this has the makings of a traditional bridal look, except for one detail: the shoe's cutouts. Whether you go for a classic ball gown, sophisticated sheath, or short dress, this heel-and-nail pairing will fit in perfectly. Christian Louboutin Nail Colour in Tutulle, $50, sephora.com, and pumps, Christian Louboutin, 888-856-8247 Berry Nail Polish + Red Satin Pumps = Black-Tie Wedding You don't always have to pair a neutral with a color; we love mixing it up read more

It's quite a compliment to be chosen as the maid of honor for a friend or relative's wedding. The decision can be a very difficult one for the bride, but along with the honor comes obligations. Being maid of honor is more than holding the bride's bouquet during the ring exchange and being the last one to walk down the aisle. It also means you're responsible for sticking with her the entire day, helping her manage her gown, and troubleshooting any little stressors that come her way on the big day. And it means you need to avoid doing the following things, lest you make yourself or the bridal party look bad. Don't be bossy. Being a leader is a good thing, but not when you use it against the bride. Whether it's while bridesmaid-dress shopping or requesting a time change during the reception to fit your schedule, you're there to be the bride's advocate—not undermine or override her wishes. Don't complain about your hair and makeup. Don't insist on having your hair redone three times and complain about how your makeup looks. It's about her, not you. And in her efforts to keep you happy, the bride may read more

Ever wonder what your wedding would be like if you let your guy do all the planning? It's a scary thought, we know...almost too scary to even think about! But curiosity got the best of us, so we figured why not find out? We asked four guys to divulge their dream wedding plans. Some of their answers will make you laugh out loud, while others are surprisingly thought-out. And for the record, we wouldn't be mad at having any of these weddings. Nice job, guys. Kenny's Dream Wedding Describe your dream wedding: Most important is to be with friends and family, no matter where it is. Good food and good music enjoyed by good people ready to have a good time. That's all I want. Dream Location: Charleston, S.C. Dream Outfit: Something that Ace Rothstein (Robert De Niro in Casino) would wear Dream Music: Performance by Outkast, and a DJ set by Daft Punk Dream Menu: Surf and turf with filet and lobster. Also lots of sushi and good cheese. Whiskey to drink for the guys, and whatever the girls want is fine with me. Dream Decor: Something that looks really good but doesn't cost that much is ideal. read more

The bouquet; the garter toss; that something blue pinned to your dress: Have you ever taken a second to consider the purpose of all of these deeply instilled wedding traditions? Probably not, because you're busy planning a wedding. But since we're wedding fanatics who fall asleep dreaming of napkin rings and invite fonts, we took the liberty to dig around and find 10 fascinating facts about the wedding traditions we've all come to know. 1. Turns out it's your "ring finger" for a reason. Engagement and wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart. 2. Queen Victoria is credited with starting the Western world's white wedding dress trend in 1840—before then, brides simply wore their best dress. 3. If your bridesmaids are less than thrilled about matching dresses, tell them they're good luck! The tradition of matching maids dates back to Roman times, when people believed evil spirits would attend the wedding in attempt to curse the bride and groom (how rude). Bridesmaids were required to dress exactly like the bride in order to confuse the spirits and bring read more

Sometimes, it's hard to say exactly what you feel—especially when it comes to your maid of honor. We asked real brides the difficult—and even sweet—things that they would like to have said to their MOHs during or after the ceremony. Who knows? Their words may inspire you to work through potential issues with your best girl before your wedding. [Ed note: Names have been changed.] "Make sure I actually eat!" —Sarah "This is my wedding, not yours, so stop trying to take over my day!" —Jenny "My daughter will be my maid of honor. I have nothing but respect for my munchkin!" —Amanda "Not to drink as much." —Claire "That I love her just like a sister." —Terrie "You should have told me when my bra was showing!" —Lauren "Maybe my whole family didn't need to know about that incriminating incident from college. I wish you hadn't put that in your speech." —Julie "With her by my side, anything is possible!" —Alex "Of all the guys you could have hooked up with at the wedding, he was the worst." —Lindsay "Run interference with my family!" —Alyssa "Nothing! She's just perfect. I love her. That's why she's my best friend read more

Owner of Weddings in Vieques, a destination-wedding planning company off the coast of Puerto Rico, Sandy Malone has helped countless couples plan their big day since 2007. Here, the veteran planner is sharing some expert advice for free: She's telling us the five things brides need on their wedding day. There are several important details that my clients never seem to think of on their own, and that's OK because they have me as a wedding planner to remind them. But when you're planning your own big day, you should make sure that you keep the following things in mind to ensure your wedding runs smoothly. 1. Lunch for the Bridal Party Too many brides forget to make special arrangements to feed themselves and the bridal party on the wedding day. It's important to pre-arrange more than just nibbles for your entire crew—especially if you aren't primping in your own home. I vividly remember how resentful bridesmaids became at a wedding because the bride ordered only a platter of fruit and cheese for her six bridesmaids—but she requested a sandwich for herself! 2. Beauty Appointments for Everyone While the bride is not required to pick up the tab for read more

Obviously lush flowers and a gorgeous venue are some of the elements of a beautiful wedding, but picture-perfect decor doesn't ensure an epic party. Score a 10 out of 10 for overall experience by following these simple yet effective tips that will have your guests talking about your wedding for years to come. 1. Ask for Song Requests To ensure everyone is having a great time and dancing the night away, have your guests request a song via the invitation response, recommends Key Largo wedding planner Lynn D'Ascanio of Dasignerevents.com. "Give this list of songs to your DJ, along with the name of the person who requested each song. That way, if the dance floor starts to thin out, the DJ can play songs off of the request list." This pretty much guarantees that the person who requested the song will get up and dance and encourage others to do so as well. 2. Don't Let Your Friends and Family Talk Forever "Many fun events have been driven into the ground by deathly long speeches," points out Lynn Jawitz, owner of Florisan Wedding and Event Design in NYC. To keep the party popping, ask your speech givers to keep read more

There's more to the morning of your wedding than makeup applications and mimosas. (And you thought the hard part was over!) Luckily, these wedding planners have you covered with a list of last-minute to-dos that will make the entire day more enjoyable. Photo by: Feather and Stone on Inspired by This via Lover.ly 1. Trade heels for flats. "You'll most likely be wearing heels all day, so savor the moments your feet can relax," says Ashley Espinal, owner of Dulce Dreams Events in New York City. "Flats and a beautiful bridal robe will make you feel like a million bucks." 2. Give your cell phone one last charge. "Not only will you be receiving phone calls and texts from family and friends," says Espinal, "but most of your important day-of information will be stored there—maybe even your vows!" 3. Don't skip breakfast—or lunch. "Start the day off on the right foot with a healthy, if light, breakfast," says Janice Carnevale, owner of Bellwether Events in Washington, D.C. "And make a plan in advance for someone to either pick up or deliver lunch, as this will likely occur during your getting-ready time." 4. Make time for your parents. "This is read more

She's your BFF, your partner in crime, and the girl who will always be by your side long after the wedding is over. Or so you thought. Because a wedding wouldn't be a wedding without a little bit of drama, we're sharing four of the most ridiculous maid-of-honor stories we've ever heard straight from the mouths of brides. "My maid of honor gleefully said she'd be my MOH when I asked her and then never did another thing. I ended up having to cancel my bridal shower because I didn't have time to plan it myself. I almost cancelled my bachelorette party, but my other 'maids came together and threw one for me. My husband even picked up my wedding dress for me! While we were having our hair and makeup done on the wedding day, my MOH was off in the corner taking selfies and uploading them to Facebook. She kept making catty comments to one of my other bridesmaids, and we finally had to separate them. Another bridesmaid took her aside and told her she needed to step it up, and her response was, 'I love you, but I want to slap you.' Needless to say, I read more